Bucket elevator



1954 HANS-HOLGER WIESE 3,144123 BUCKET ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 20 1962 Hans He/9er Wiese United States Patent O 3,144123 BUCKET ELEVATOR Hans-Holger Wiese, Schmiedestrasse 24, Hannover, Germany Filed Sept. 20, 1962, Ser. N0. 225,067 Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 25, 1961 5 Claims. (C1. 198-149) The present invention refers to a bucket elevator, and, more particularly, to an elevator, the buckets of which are carried by transverse studs of two endless toothed belcs running over driving and deflection pulleys.

In chain elevators presently in use, the chains run over chain wheels, the pitch of which is as large as one bucket opening, so that the bucket is not subject to any deformation when passing a chain wheel. Contrary to this, Where the bucket elevator consists of two endless toothed belts carrying the buckets, it is necessary that the pitch of the buckets can be shortened in the ratio of string to bow. In present day constructions, this is performed by employing flexible buckets Which are capable of being deformed each tirne they pass a driving and deflection pulley. Apart frorn this regular deformation, there is an additional deformation of the flexible buckets which accelerates their eventual destruction, due to the fact that after a multitude of rotations, the two toothed belts are subject to mutual displacement, resulting in tilting of their transverse studs, and, at the same time, of the buckets suspended to them.

It is the principal object of the invention to eliminate deformation of any kind of the single buckets suspended to the transverse studs of the toothed belts, by providing for support of the buckets against one another in a manner specifically designed for this purpose, and thereby ensuring more inexpensive and yet more reliable working service and longer working life of the elevator.

Another object of the invention is to protect the bucket joints against intrusion f any substances to be conveyed by the elevator.

A fnrther object is to construct an elevator which may be operated in horizontal, inclined and vertical direction and is adapted for continuous charging.

Still other objects and features, and the way in which the various objects of the invention are accomplished, Will be apparent from the following more detailed specificaden and from the accompanying drawings, in Which an embodirnent of the invention is shown by way of an example.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a bucket elevator,

FIG. 2 is a eross section of a bucket,

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a modified embodiznent of the bucket,

FIG. 4 is a snpporting member partly in sectional and partly in perspective view.

Referring 10 FIGURE l, the bucket elevator comprises several driving and deflection pulleys 1 guiding two endless toothed belts 2 made of rubber 01' plastic material. Because cf their toothings, the two belts cannot be dis placed against each other. Fastened to either belt are transverse bolts or studs 3 on which buckets 4 are suspended. The buckets 4 consist of a rigid plastic material of smooth surface, which will be helpfnl for easier discharge of the substances to be conveyed. As is apparent from FIGURE 2, each bucket 4 is swingably suppo1ted at a longitudinal side vertical to direction of motion by a transverse stud 3 arranged in a cylindrical groove 12 of the bucket 4. The opposite sicle of the bucket 4 by means of an elastic member is articulately supported against the stud 3 of the next bucket The elastic member 5 has the shape of a strip, profiled as shown in FIGURE 4. It consists of rubber 01' a yielding plastic material and, in Order to increase its strength, may be armed with reinforcing lining of fabric or of a similar material. The elastic member 5 has roll-shaped end sides 6 and 7 Which are connected with one another by a flat middle part or ridge 8. The roll-shaped cylindrical sides 6 and 7 are fitted into longitudinally slotted cylindrical grooves 9 and 10 of two neighbonring buckets. By means of its elastic ridge 8, the member 5 permits changes in distance be tween two transverse studs 3 as these are caused by the cnrvature of the belt on a pnlley (difference between bow and string).

This difference may be modified t0 a certain extent by providing the pitch circle of the toothing of the pulleys 1 not to coincide With the pitch circle on which the transverse studs 3 are located. When the hell curves in one direction, this modification will cause diminishment cf the difierence, and will cause equal enlargement when the belt curves in opposite direction. However, in all cases, the elastic member 5 is capable of compensating these differences.

If, in its roll-shaped side 7, the elastic member 5 has a longitudinal groove 11, as shown in FIGURE 4, the mutual support of the buckets can be provided for according to FIGURE 3. In this modified construction, the placement of one bucket on transverse stud 3 coincides With the support of the neighbouring bucket in that the transverse stud 3 is introduced into groove 11 of elastic member 5, and the roll-shaped side 7 cf the elastic mem ber 5 is pushed into the longitudinally slotted groove 9 of the bncket. This makes groove 12 of FIGURE 2, superfluous.

FIGURE 1 shows the buckets 4 in the various positions of the bucket elevator, and the Way in which the elastic member 5 operates in the various stages, can be clearly seen. The shape of the elastic members 5 is such that at the same time the gaps between the neighbouring buckets are covered by them. This avoids losses of the material to be conveyed, and also prevents intrusion into parts of the driving mechanism.

Duo to the scalloped overlapping of the buckets, the bucket elevator, according to the invention, allows for comtinuous charging of the substances to be conveyed. As the bucket joints are protected by the elastic members 5, these substances are prevented from intruding into the joints and disturbing, or blocking, their functioning. The comveyance may take place in horizontal, inclined or vertical direction, and the too=thed belt, carrying the buckets, may be guided over driving or deflection pulleys of comparatively small diameter.

Although the invention has been descrilbed in connection with certain particular embodirnents, it is to be understood that the invenion is not limited to these particular embodiments except insofar as they are specifically set forth in the following claims.

My claims are:

l. In a bucket elevator having two endless toothed belts of yielding material adapted to be guided over toothed pulleys, transverse studs carried by said bolts and buckets swingably suppoired by said studs; elastic members between adjacent buckets, each elastic memlaer having the shape of a strip comprising cylindrical and sides and a flat middle part, said cylindrical end sides fitting into cylindrical openings formed in said bnckets to yieldably comnect the elastic member to a transverse side of one bucket and to the transverse side of the next bucket.

2. The bucket elevator of claim 1, Wherein said elastic member is reinforced by an embodied lining of fabric.

3. In a bucket elevator, two endless toothed bolts cf yielding material, toothed rolls guiding said belts, transverse bolts fastened to said belts, buckets swingably supported by said belts, a cylindrical groove in one transverse side of. each bucket enclosing a holt, longitudinally slotted grooves in opposite sides of said buckets, an elastic strip 3 with roll-shaped ends in transverse direction, said 1'011- shaped ends fitting into said slotted grooves of the buckets, whereby the single buckets are articulately connected With each other.

4. In a bucket elevator, two endless toothed belts of 5 yielding material, toothed rolls guiding said belts, transverse bolts fastened to said belts, buckets swingably supported by said belts, an elastric strip with cylindricallY reinforced transverse ends, a cylindrical groove in one of said both ends of the ela'stic strip, said holt fitting into said cylindrical groove and forming an articulate support of one side of the bucket, the opposite side cf which having a slotted groove into Which the other cylindrically transverse and of said elastic strip fits, whereby the single buckets are articulately connected with each other.

5. A bucket elevator, comprising, in combination, driving and deflection pulleys, two endless toothed belts of elastic material guided over said pulleys, transverse studs carried by said belts, buckets, each of said buckets being swingably supported upon a separate stud upon one side of the bucket which extends transversely to the direction of movement cf the bucket, and strip-like elastic rnembers, each of said elastic mernbers being connected With and extending between two adjacent buckets, the connection cf each elastic member 10 one of the two adjacent buckets being upon the side opposite to that wherein the stud is located to provide an elastic supporting and tight connection between the two adjacent buckets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1491,641 Stephans Alu. 22, 1924 2638205 Hapman May 12, 1953 3015381 Mohwinkel Jan. 2, 1962 

1. IN A BUCKET ELEVATOR HAVING TWO ENDLESS TOOTHED BELTS OF YIELDING MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE GUIDED OVER TOOTHED PULLEYS, TRANSVERSE STUDS CARRIED BY SAID BELTS AND BUCKETS SWINGABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID STUDS; ELASTIC MEMBERS BETWEEN ADJACENT BUCKETS, EACH ELASTIC MEMBER HAVING THE SHAPE OF A STRIP COMPRISING CYLINDRICAL END SIDES AND A FLAT MIDDLE PART, SAID CYLINDRICAL END SIDES FITTING INTO CYLINDRICAL OPENINGS FORMED IN SAID BUCKETS TO YIELDABLY CONNECT THE ELASTIC MEMBER TO A TRANSVERSE SIDE OF ONE BUCKET AND TO THE TRANSVERSE SIDE OF THE NEXT BUCKET. 